Page 114 of Oddly Fine

“You saying I’m not good looking and appealing?” Beckett asked instead, playing coy.

Hayes rolled his eyes, not at all fooled.

“I think you know perfectly well how attractive I find you,” Hayes replied.

That admission momentarily took Beckett’s breath away. He smiled, and reached for Hayes’ forearm, squeezing it gently as he winked at his boyfriend.

“I love you too, Nancy,” he said, knowing exactly what Hayes was trying to convey.

Relief swept across Hayes’ features as he gave a firm nod and turned back to the milling crowd. God—how had Beckett gotten so lucky?

“Heads up,” Hayes said, drawing Beckett’s attention back to their surroundings.

He’d been sort of joking before about not knowing what she would look like, but as a large group of new arrivals headed their way, he questioned exactly how they’d know who to approach. He checked his watch: 16:30. Any minute now.

Hayes started to make a comment when he noticed an older woman—well into her 60s— with a backpack slung over her shoulder and holding a sign she’d made out of a barf bag from the plane. It read “I’m here, FYI.”

“That—” Beckett didn’t have words. “Think she’s our girl?”

“She certainly not one of Bond’s,” Hayes responded before he pushed away from the wall and began walking towards her.

Beckett followed him, but left a little distance between them.

Their contact had stepped away from the group and waited, her backpack at her feet, sign held out in front of her as she casually glanced around. Noticing Hayes coming to stand just a few feet away, her friendly smile morphed into one of pure mischief.

“Agent Monroe?” she asked, balling up the bag in one hand and extending the other towards Hayes.

“Indeed,” Hayes said with a nod, as he reached for her hand.

“Adeline Morr,” she said, her voice low and gravelly.

Probably, Beckett decided, from one too many cigarettes, as he walked up to stand next to Hayes.

“Pleasure to meet you. This is my partner Beckett Thérault,” Hayes introduced him with a warm smile.

She gave him a nod and a quick smile. “I’d say it’s a pleasure, but that plane ride nearly killed me,” she declared.

“Oh? Were there—delays?” Hayes asked politely.

“It’s just at my age—my hips can’t bend for a long time like that anymore,” she stated, waving it off. “It’s why I divorced my third husband,” she added, with a husky laugh and a wink.

“Welcome to Montreal, Madame Morr,” Beckett said, still trying to decide how he felt about this woman. He held out his hand for her to shake. She took it, though her gaze narrowed as it met his own.

“Fuck the Madame—I’m old, but not dead yet. Adeline or Addy will do,” she said, ignoring his attempt at formality.

“Adeline?” he repeated, testing the sound of it, having never heard the name before.

“Yes. A-D-E-L—oh, who am I kidding! Gill said he’s the smart one,” she said, nodding towards Hayes.

“Bit of an overstatement,” Beckett said, rolling his eyes.

She grinned at him, clearly pleased that he hadn’t taken offence at her assessment of him.

“And who’s this?” she asked, as she laid her hand on Nickel’s head as he slept.

“Attack dog. Nickel’s the name,” Beckett said, with a great deal of pride.

“Him, I’m happy to see,” she say, her rough edges disappearing when she petted him. Nickel woke up at the touch. He leaned his head against her hand, seeking even more contact. Clearly, the munchkin was loyal to himself, first and foremost.